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Stepping Westward
Stepping Westward

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Stepping Westward is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”
THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.
It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.
The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.
Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Stepping Westward

Chapter I

Chapter 1 of Stepping Westward is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”
Line 2
THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.
Line 3
It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.
/ɪt wɑːz wʌn ʌv ðoʊz maɪld deɪz ðæt hiːr ɪn ðə saʊθ ˈkʌntri tʃiːt ðə ˈfænsi wɪð ðer ˈlaɪknəs nɑːt ˈmɪrli tuː sprɪŋ bʌt tuː ˈsʌmər/
Line 4
The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.
Line 5
Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

cloudless adjective US /ˈklaʊdləs/

free from clouds

From this reading “The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.”

grades noun US /ɡreɪdz/

plural of “grade” — a body of students who are taught together

From this reading “_First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.””

incongruously adverb US /ˌɪŋˈkɔːŋruːəsli/

in an incongruous manner

From this reading “Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.”

mallow noun US /ˈmæloʊ/

any of various plants of the family Malvaceae

From this reading “The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.”

multiplicity noun US /ˌmʌltəˈplɪsɪti/

the property of being multiple

From this reading “THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.”

starred adjective US /stɑːrd/

marked with an asterisk

From this reading “The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.”

undulating verb US /ˈʌndʒəleɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “undulate” — stir up (water) so as to form ripples

From this reading “THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.”

wayside noun US /ˈweɪsaɪd/

edge of a way or road or path

From this reading “THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

high road adjective + noun

In this reading “THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.”

DEAR FRIEND adjective + noun

In this reading “_First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.””

All words in this reading · 105

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1907

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

afreshadverbUS /əˈfreʃ/

again but in a new or different way

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

AGESnounUS /ˈeɪdʒəz/

plural of “age” — how long something has existed

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

ALLadjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

autumnnounUS /ˈɔːtəm/

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

banksnounUS /bæŋks/

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

BELOVEDadjectiveUS /bɪˈlʌvd/

dearly loved

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

bloomingnounUS /ˈbluːmɪŋ/

the organic process of bearing flowers

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

blossomsnounUS /ˈblɑːsəmz/

plural of “blossom” — reproductive organ of angiosperm plants especially one having showy or colorful parts

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

cheatverbUS /tʃiːt/

deprive somebody of something by deceit

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

claret-coloured

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

cloudlessadjectiveUS /ˈklaʊdləs/

free from clouds

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

crane's-bill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

D'OYLY

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

DEARadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

DORSET

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

droppedverbUS /drɑːpt/

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

ELINOR

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/

something many people believe that is false

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

fellow-men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

flowersnounUS /ˈflaʊərz/

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

FOLKnounUS /foʊk/

people in general (often used in the plural)

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

FRIENDnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

gayadjectiveUS /ɡeɪ/

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

gorsenoun

very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

GRADESnounUS /ɡreɪdz/

plural of “grade” — a body of students who are taught together

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

guelder-rose

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

hedgerownoun

a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

incongruouslyadverbUS /ˌɪŋˈkɔːŋruːəsli/

in an incongruous manner

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

KNOWNadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

LADYnounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

lanenounUS /leɪn/

a narrow way or road

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

leavesnounUS /liːvz/

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

likenessnounUS /ˈlaɪknəs/

similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

lovesnounUS /lʌvz/

plural of “love” — a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

mallownounUS /ˈmæloʊ/

any of various plants of the family Malvaceae

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/

and nothing more

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/

moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

multiplicitynounUS /ˌmʌltəˈplɪsɪti/

the property of being multiple

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

PublishedadjectiveUS /ˈpʌblɪʃt/

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

scabiousnoun

any of various plants of the genus Scabiosa

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

sheep-tracks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

singingnounUS /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

southnounUS /saʊθ/

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

starredadjectiveUS /stɑːrd/

marked with an asterisk

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

stonyadjectiveUS /ˈstoʊni/

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

surmountedadjectiveUS /sərˈmaʊntɪd/

having something on top

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

tintsnounUS /tɪnts/

plural of “tint” — a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

twigsnounUS /twɪɡz/

plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

From this reading Here and there the gorse was blooming afresh, and new blossoms of guelder-rose surmounted, incongruously enough, twigs with claret-coloured leaves that dropped at a touch.

undulatingverbUS /ˈʌndʒəleɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “undulate” — stir up (water) so as to form ripples

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

upwardsadverbUS /ˈʌpwərdz/

spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was one of those mild days that here in the south country cheat the fancy with their likeness, not merely to spring, but to summer.

waysidenounUS /ˈweɪsaɪd/

edge of a way or road or path

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The sky was blue and cloudless; the birds were singing; the banks were still starred with many flowers: crane’s-bill, mallow and scabious.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

woundnounUS /waʊnd/

an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)

From this reading THE wayside hedgerow, gay with its autumn tints, stretched its undulating length beside the rather stony lane that wound upwards from the high road, and lost itself amid a multiplicity of sheep-tracks on the down.

WriteverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading _First Published in 1907_ TO MY DEAR FRIEND ELINOR, LADY D’OYLY KNOWN AND BELOVED BY DORSET FOLK OF ALL GRADES, AND ALL AGES “_Write me as one who loves his fellow-men_.”

Chapter 1 of Stepping Westward by M. E. Francis holds 411 sentences, grouped into 83 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Stepping Westward contain?

Chapter 1 holds 411 sentences of Stepping Westward, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Stepping Westward by M. E. Francis exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 411 sentences, grouped into 83 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Stepping Westward?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Stepping Westward

Common questions about reading Stepping Westward by M. E. Francis on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Stepping Westward?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Stepping Westward is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Stepping Westward take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Stepping Westward section by section

How to work through Stepping Westward section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of Stepping Westward to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Stepping Westward

Words and structures a reader meets early in Stepping Westward, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of Stepping Westward, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of Stepping Westward, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.